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Camden Diocese Shuns Florio Over Abortion

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Gov. Jim Florio and other Roman Catholic public officials in southern New Jersey who disagree with the church's teaching on abortion will not be allowed to speak at church events under a policy announced by the Diocese of Camden.

Speaking on Friday before the New Jersey State Council of the Knights of Columbus, Bishop James T. McHugh also said Catholic agencies should not give any honors to Catholic politicians who favor abortion rights or allow them to hold any ministry or office.

Mr. Florio favors abortion rights and lives in Camden County.

Jon Shure, a Florio spokesman, said that the Governor ''feels the Bishop is entitled to his opinion.'' Mr. Shure declined to comment further.

As a United States Representative, Mr. Florio opposed new restrictions on abortion. He has said that the legalization of abortion was part of a woman's constitutionally protected right to privacy.

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''There is no exception to this universal prohibition nor has any dissent or difference of opinion been accepted,'' he said. ''No Catholic can hold a pro-choice position and claim to be in unity with the church.''

Bishop McHugh did not advocate that Catholic politicians who favor a woman's right to have an abortion be denied communion or other sacraments.

In February, the newly appointed Roman Catholic Bishop of the Brooklyn Diocese, Thomas V. Daily, said that Gov. Mario M. Cuomo would not be welcome as a speaker in any diocesan church setting because of his views on abortion. The diocese covers Brooklyn and Queens, of which Mr. Cuomo, a Catholic, is a native.

Two days later, Bishop Daily modified his stand to say that Mr. Cuomo could speak in parish churches and at church functions as long as he did not discuss abortion.

Governor Cuomo has said that he is bound to obey the church on all matters of faith and morals, but not on economic, political or social matters.

A version of this article appears in print on May 20, 1990, on Page 1001036 of the National edition with the headline: Camden Diocese Shuns Florio Over Abortion. Order Reprints|Today's Paper|Subscribe